First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he rarely found at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 partly due to injury concerns ending his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. The decision to skip his last contracted season raises questions: did he buy out of the contract or return part of his guaranteed payment? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculations arise about where Koepka will play next. He could immediately play on the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, or seek reinstatement on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following a significant reduction of lifetime bans initially imposed by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be spiteful when each LIV returnee benefits the well-established PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that was not extended after 2022.